Although our next local rose show will be a little less than year from now, it isn’t too early to start planning! Even if you don’t see yourself as a competitor, it is fun and not too difficult to enter a rose show close to home. Sometimes we enter roses just to show rosarians and the show visitors the infinite variety of roses. Rose shows are an educational activity as well as a competition. It’s a good way to get roses and the Gainesville Rose Society “out there.” At our Nov. 10 meeting, we’ll be learning some of the fundamentals of showing specimen roses, making ARS arrangements, and entering photographs. Then, at a later date, when roses are more plentiful, we hope to do an in-house practice rose show.
I will be interested to see the Marion County Rose Society’s Rose Festival at Silver Springs State Park on November 16.
Our GRS holiday party is Dec. 8 at the Homemakers Club/Historic Melrose building in Melrose. Details will follow. You may bring guests, but please let our committee know the number in your party. We will have a sign-up sheet at the November meeting.
The date to register for the Deep South District Mid-Winter Meeting, Dec. 6, is fast approaching. I strongly urge all our members to participate. To attend the various sessions, January 17-19, it is necessary to register, but meals and the Friday afternoon arrangement workshop, at extra cost, are optional. We are really fortunate to have such an opportunity for in-depth learning about roses so close, at the Best Western Gateway Grand at 39th Ave., and Interstate 75. Check out the Schedule of Events and Registration Information at the end of this newsletter.
Congratulations to Willie Mae Burley and Jean and Ralph Stream who brought home prizes from the combined ARS , DSD, and Tennarky District meetings and rose shows.
One advantage of Florida living is the opportunity to decorate our holiday tables with roses from our gardens. Here’s wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Yours in Roses,
Jean Giesel, President
